I'm with you. I'd rather sit and knit (at my kids' soccer games or on the sofa) or do Suduko than exercise.

Somehow, we must force ourselves to do this. Otherwise, we just grow bigger. Unfortunately, I speak from experience.

I suggest you find a way or make a way to exercise. Try different times and just do it. Find something you think you might like.

For example, I work out best in the morning before I'm fully awake and my body realizes what is going on! Also, it's done for the day and I don't have to think about it any more. That's very motivating to me. The night before, I even lay out my gym clothes, with shoes and socks, so I'm not trying to find things in the dark in the early morning. Since I now work part time, these morning workouts fit my day and new schedule.

On my days when I don't work, I try to exercise by lunchtime. This way I feel like I've given myself a 'break' by not working out in the early morning. I still get up and put my workout clothes on. I consider this 'mental preparation' for exercise.

I do take one day off a week, simply because I want a rest day.

When I was employed full time outside the home, I worked out after work, but before I got home. This way I was refreshed and newly showered for the evening. That was when it was still convenient to join a health club.

I like the way SP rewards you for working out with points. You get a lot of points for cardio--so be sure to log those minutes!

Finally, I've built quite the collection of exercise DVDs and equipment in my home. This way there's no excuse not to exercise. Before buying, I borrowed several from the library to see if I liked them. This was great, because then I only spent money on things I know I would use and enjoy.

I hope some of these ideas are helpful to you. Good luck to you and keep on trying!

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein." --H. Jackson Brown

I'm 43 and 20 pounds overweight. I've been married for 20 years and have two kids who are 15 and 13. I am a substitute elementary school teacher. I know what I shold be doing; I just have a hard time doing it. Truth be told, I'd rather have a diet Coke, read the paper, and watch Law & Order than exercise every morning. I need someone to hold me accountable and to cheer me on. I'm too embarassed to ask my friends because they're all skinny and in good shape. I'm always the older, fat friend.

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